Stratton mechanical



fnv'arzfar H. J. MOORE.

ENVELOPE SEALER AND STAMPER.

Patented Jan. 81, 1888.

(No Model.)

N, PEYERS Pllotoldhngnphen wumn mn. D. C,

UNITED STATES HOMER J. MOORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT a ATENT tries.

STRATTON MECHANICAL APPLIANCE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOPE SEALER AND STAMPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,170, dated January 31, 1888.

(No model.)

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IIOMER J. Moonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Envelope Sealer and Stamper, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for scal ing the flaps of mail-envelopes and affixing the postage-stamps thereto; and its object is to provide a machine whereby the two results can be accomplished, separately or together, by a single continuing motion. This object I accomplish by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the base with thetop removed. Fig. 3 is a section through line X X on Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail of the locking mechanism.

Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the figures.

A is the base, in the form of a rectangular water-box, with feet B B. On it rests the cover C, provided with aperture D, slightlyelevated arin E, and moistcning-pad F.

G is a lever-arm, pivoted to the bottom of the box at H and upwardly curved at I, and terminating in the corrugated stampresser J, with the inclined surface K.

At the end of the box A is the receptacle L, in which the presscr stands, and also a spiral spring, M, which yieldingly supports the presser. On one end of the cover 0 is an elevated chute, N, which rests above the receptacle L. In this chute is a sliding weight, 0, which is seen resting on a package of stamps, P. The chute is provided with a cover consisting of the side Q, top R, pipe S, and locking-rod T and screw U. The rod has a pin,

V, and the screw hasahole, V, to receive the same.

X is a pad on the edge of the chute, Y a roller journaled thereon, and Z a moistcningpad around the roller.

2 is an envelope in the process of being stamped and sealed.

3 is a guide along the top of the box eover for the envelope.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: The machine is set up as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The chute is filled with a column of stamps, with the gummed sides down, and on the column rests the weight which keeps the stamps down on the corrugated presser. The moistening-pad X rests or floats in the water which the boX A contains, and the roller Y, resting on such pad, absorbs enough water to keep its pad Z moistened also. The chute-cover is placed in position, and the rod is turned about so as to drive the screw in, and thus lock the chute, so as to prevent access to the stamps. The pad F floats or trails in the water, and thus keeps well moistened. Now,

if it is desired to seal and stamp an envelope,

the flap is introduced under the arm E, so that the gurniued portion passes along the pad F and is moistened. The envelope is carried toward the chute along the guide and under the finger,whioh seals the moistened flap. The

upper right-hand corner of the envelope now passes under the moistened roller and up the inclined surface of the corrugated presser, where it receives the lower stamp in the column, the same being attached to the moistened corner of the envelope. The envelope is then thrown aside to dry. \Vhen the stamps are exhausted in the chute, the locking-rod is turned about, its pin engaging the hole on the lock-screw, and thus the latter is unscrewed and the chute-cover released. The chute can then again be filled with stamps and the cover restored to its position.

The surface of the presser-bar J is corrugated, in order that the envelope may slide up on the same with less danger of sticking thereto. This presser is supported by an elastie spring, so as to keep the stamps well up in the chute until the envelope enters the same, when it is slightly depressed, so as to hold the presser, and thus the envelope, elastically upward against the gnmmed side of the stamp. The point V on the end of the rod T is adapted to enter the hole or aperture \V in the top ofthe screw U, and thus by turning the rod T by' an elastic presser on which there is a corru- 10 the thumb-piece on its end the bolt U may be gated surface inclined at one side, and which screwed in or out of the portion of the case forms the bottom of the chute. above the roll. As this bolt U turns, it car- January 8, 1887.

5. ries the sleeve S with it, and thus raises and loosens the cover of the chute. V HOMER R I claim' WVitnesses: In a machine for stamping envelopes, a FRANCIS WV. PARKER,

stamp-containing chute, in combination with CORA L. OADWALLADER. 

